Vehicle-step



No. 610,697. Patented Sept. l3, I898,

' R. H. & l. B. WOLFE.

VEHICLE STEP.

(Application filed Nov. 8, 1897.)

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Warren STATES ROBERT II. IVOLFE AND IRA B. l/VOLFE, OF TILLAR, ARKANSAS.

VEHICLE-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 610,697, datedSeptember 13, 1898. Application filed November 8, 1897. $eria1N'o.657,872. (IIo model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ROBERT E. WOLFE and IRA B. WOLFE, residing atTillar, in the county of Drew and State of Arkansas, have invented a newand useful Vehicle-Step, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved vehicle-step; and the object ofthe invention is to provide a step so constructed that it will swingautomatically when it comes in contact with an obstruction, so as todisengage the same and avoid the breaking or'bending incident to a rigidstep.

A further object is to provide a guard for the step, so that when thelatter comes in con tact with the obstruction it will readily swing todisengage the same.

. \Vith the above objects in view the invention consists of arearwardly-swinging step, a curved guard therefor, and a spring forreturning the step to its normal position when the obstruction has beenpassed.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which our invention mostnearly appertains to make and use the same,'we will now proceed todescribe its construction and operation, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which-Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of a vehicle with our step attachedthereto, showing the operation of the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspectiveview of the step detached from the vehicle. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectionof the bracket on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectionof Fig. 2, taken at right angles to Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, Ais the bracket, having the inwardly-extending attaching-arm B and the laterally-extending arms 0 at the outer endthereof. Said bracket also has the downwardly-extendin g portion D,whichis cut out on its outer face to receive the upper end of thestep-standard E, which is pivoted thereto, as illustrated at F. Thelower end of the standard carries the step portion G, and secured at itsupper end to the forward edge of the standard, adjacent its lower end orformed integrally therewith,is the guard-rod I-I,which curves forwardlyand downwardly and at its lower end is united to the step portion at itsforward end. This guard-rod serves to pre vent the engagement of thestep portion with the obstruction and holds the same therefrom until thelatter has been passed by the vehicle.

Formed in the bracket is the central vertical slot I, which opensthrough the upper end of the depending portion D, said slot being openat its forward end to permit the upper reduced end J of the standard toswing thereinto, the rear end wall of the slot forming a stop againstwhich said standard abuts when in normal position. Acoiled spring K issecured at one end to the standard and at its opposite end to the underside of one of the lateral arms 0, said spring serving to return thestandard and step to their normal positions after the obstruction hasbeen passed.

In operation when the vehicle passes an obstruction, such as a stump,the guard-rod of the step will engage the stump and prevent the stepcatching thereon, while said step will swing laterally through themedium of the pivoted standard. When the obstruction has been passed,the step will be returned to its normal position by the spring.

From the above description it will be seen that we have produced asimple construction of step which is adapted to automatically disengagean obstruction with which it may come in contact and which returns toits normal position when the obstruction has been passed.

WVhile we have illustrated and described the best means now known to usfor carrying out our invention, we do not wish to be understood asrestricting ourselves to the exact details of construction shown anddescribed, but hold that any slight changes or variations such as mightsuggest themselves to the ordinary mechanic would properly fall withinthe limit and scope of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a vehicle, of a bracket adapted to be securedthereto, and formed with a vertical slot open at its forward end, astandard pivoted to said bracket and carrying a step portion, saidstandard adapted at its upper end to swing within the slot, and

a spring secured at one end to the standard and adapted to hold the samenormally abutting against the rear end Wall of the slot, substantiallyas described.

2. The combination with a vehicle, of a standard pivoted thereto andcarrying a step portion, and a guard curved forwardly and downwardly andattached at one end to the standard, and at its opposite end to the stepportion, substantially as described.

ROBERT H. WOLFE. IRA B. \VOLFE.

Witnesses:

T. F. TILLAR, O. L. DISHOUGI-I.

